POETRY AND UNCOVERING THE MYSTERY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS: AN ARTS-BASED INQUIRY TO AGING CARE

Abstract This research focuses on a current social welfare problem: unemployment and the loss of employer-based health insurance among non-elderly adults aged 18 to 64. The literature covers this social problem in terms of health status, access to medical care, employed versus unemployed working-age adults, mitigating the risks of unemployment, and loss of health insurance via the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). As good as the findings are, they are methodologically limited by looking at only half the story. This research asks a different question: how might the humanities and arts-based perspective address the social problem? It aims at answering why the employment status is related to health and health insurance. Chinese poetry has a long rich tradition of expressing insights about the inner life since antiquity to the present. These reflections include practice wisdom and keen observations on aging. This poster presents case findings on the use of Chinese poetics to inform aging care in the West. Each case provides discussions on why social welfare system comes up short to solve the problem and how the social welfare system can be effectively changed. Researchers use survey data to compliment Chinese poetic insights about employment status and insurance status to illustrate the correlation between respondents’ health status with versus without employment. Findings are hoped to interpret the role of family as a social unit where it consists in social welfare along with the speculative inquiry of poetry.

Increasing age brings greater risk of the death of friends and family (hereafter referred to as loss). Loss may impact individuals' life-space mobility (LSM); however, no research has explored relationships between loss and LSM trajectories. Using the UAB Study of Aging, we examined differences in LSM trajectories of 1000 communitydwelling older Alabamians (65+years) with and without loss during the study period. We assessed LSM using the UAB Life-Space Assessment (LSA), a validated instrument measuring individuals' ability to move through zones ranging from their bedroom to out of town. We assessed loss every 6 months using a standard bereavement questionnaire capturing spousal, other relative, or friend loss. We used piecewise linear mixed effects models to compare LSA trajectories. Those who do not experience loss had a baseline mean LSA score of 49.5 and show a decline of 0.08 points per year (p < 0.001). Those that do experience loss had a baseline LSA score of 60 and decline by 1.0 point per year before the loss (p < 0.001), accelerating to 1.8 points per year after the loss (p < 0.001). Those with loss do not experience acute decline post loss but do have an acceleration of the pre-existing decline. More research is needed on this topic to better understand the impact of loss on LSM trajectories; but this finding suggests that more public health and clinical interventions may be needed for those who experience loss. Specifically, bereaved individuals may benefit from social, mental, or healthcare services for lossrelated challenges. Suha You, and Giyeon Kim, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea Objectives: There is a growing interest in death preparation as an important process to achieve ego integrity at the last stage of life. However, in South Korea, conversations about death remain taboo especially with older adults. Thus, this study aims to examine the association between preparation for one's death and life satisfaction among Korean older adults.

THE RELATION BETWEEN DEATH PREPARATION AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG KOREAN OLDER ADULTS
Methods: Data for this study were drawn from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans conducted by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. The sample was limited to adults aged 65 and older (N=10,097). The survey measured preparation for death, life satisfaction, and various covariates (e.g., sociodemographic characteristics, physical conditions, psychological conditions). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine whether death preparation influences life satisfaction among Korean older adults.
Results: Results from hierarchical multiple regression showed that after adjusting for covariates, those who reported more preparations for death mentally (B=.054, p<.001) and materially (B=.035, p<.001) were more likely to have greater satisfaction in life than their counterparts.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that it is necessary to generate proper information and recognition about death at the government level and activate discourses on death preparation in later life.

HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICE INTERVENTIONS POETRY AND UNCOVERING THE MYSTERY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS: AN ARTS-BASED INQUIRY TO AGING CARE
Heng Wu, and Peter Szto, The University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, United States This research focuses on a current social welfare problem: unemployment and the loss of employer-based health insurance among non-elderly adults aged 18 to 64. The literature covers this social problem in terms of health Innovation in Aging, 2022, Vol. 6, No. S1 status, access to medical care, employed versus unemployed working-age adults, mitigating the risks of unemployment, and loss of health insurance via the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). As good as the findings are, they are methodologically limited by looking at only half the story. This research asks a different question: how might the humanities and arts-based perspective address the social problem? It aims at answering why the employment status is related to health and health insurance. Chinese poetry has a long rich tradition of expressing insights about the inner life since antiquity to the present. These reflections include practice wisdom and keen observations on aging. This poster presents case findings on the use of Chinese poetics to inform aging care in the West. Each case provides discussions on why social welfare system comes up short to solve the problem and how the social welfare system can be effectively changed. Researchers use survey data to compliment Chinese poetic insights about employment status and insurance status to illustrate the correlation between respondents' health status with versus without employment. Findings are hoped to interpret the role of family as a social unit where it consists in social welfare along with the speculative inquiry of poetry.

INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF "SEVA": ELDERS MODEL SELFLESS SERVICE IN SOUTH ASIAN HOMES FOR CHILDREN Connie Corley, Laura Sherwood, Dibendu Ghosh, and David Willis, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, United States
Life course theory is a framework for examining the role of elders in modeling altruistic behavior or "seva" (selfless service) in two homes for children: Unatti (Bhaktapur, Nepal) and Ramana's Garden (Rishikesh, India). Two American women, compelled to impact the plight of children subject to poverty, trafficking and/or caste discrimination (Dalits, the former "untouchables"), each founded homes 20+ years ago and modeled selfless service exemplified by children, some now in "emerging adulthood," who are giving back to their communities. In this intergenerational/ intercultural multiple case study, narratives of the program founders now in mid-to late adulthood are presented along with narratives of six young adults who continue to provide nurturance to younger children and engage in projects to educate and feed residents of the homes and nearby communities. The life course principle of time and place situates the children in areas of their countries with relatively low literacy rates. The founders saw the value of education to empower young people, especially girls, to expand their opportunities and serve as role models for children coming into the homes after them. The linked lives principle is evident through shared relationships with the founders as these young people navigate political crises, disasters like the Nepal earthquake, and health crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. Some become leaders themselves as they have been mentored over their life course. A sense of agency is experienced in their young adulthood as more choices for their lives become available as an alternative to subsistence existence and early marriage/childbearing.

DOES DEPRESSION IMPROVE DURING RETIREMENT AMONG BINGE DRINKERS?
Antonia Diaz-Valdes 1 , Christina Sellers 2 , and Julian Ponce 3 , 1. Universidad Mayor,Las Condes,Region Metropolitana,Chile,2. Simmons University,Boston,Massachusetts,United States,3. University of California,Berkeley,California,United States Data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2016) was used. All non-institutionalized respondents aged 50+ were included in our sample (n=12,618). Mixed models were conducted to study the association between transitioning to retirement and depressive symptoms (CESD) among retirees, and to test the mediation effect of alcohol use.
Results: Those retired for at least 6 years had increased probability of binge drinking. Additionally, binge drinking mediated the association between the retirement transition and depressive symptoms, making the effect stronger for those retired for 3 to 5 years (p< 0.05), and weaker and no significant for those retired for 6+ years (p>0.05). Thus, the decrease on depressive symptoms was higher for those retired between 3 to 5 years when being binge drinkers. Discussion and Implications: Addressing depressive symptoms and binge drinking among older adults is sorely needed. Binge drinking was associated with decreased depressive symptoms, consistent with the self-medication hypothesis. Treatment and screening for depression as well as binge drinking are especially important as both are associated with increased mortality. Treating depression would reduce the risk of increased alcohol use and its detrimental effects on health. Age Friendly Health Systems (AFHSs) and Age Friendly Universities (AFUs) are distinct entities in the "Age Friendly" ecosystem. While Age Friendly entities function independently, they typically exist in close proximity (e.g., universities and community hospitals); yet they remain isolated in their Age Friendly efforts. We report on a collaboration between a mid-Atlantic Age Friendly University and a new AFHS using case study methodology. Our goal is to inform and inspire key stakeholders responsible for creating innovative healthy aging communities. The collaboration began with a shared stakeholder team who articulated focus areas and overlapping goals. A charter document was developed articulating commitments and responsibilities. Using a Quality Improvement (QI) approach, projects targeted the hospital's older patient needs that linked to the AFHS 4 M's of Matters, Medications, Mobility, and Mentation. University graduate